With Western Australia’s ban on lightweight single-use plastic bags just five months away, the Shire of Dardanup’s Bring Your Own Bag campaign is going strong.

Dardanup Shire President Mick Bennett said as the state-wide ban drew closer the campaign would no doubt gain even greater traction.

“The community continues to respond very positively to the messages we are pumping out on this topic which, I think reflects a growing awareness in our society generally about the need for change,” he said.

“When you take a look around at your local supermarket and see the number of people bringing their own bags, the tide is definitely turning.”

The Shire of Dardanup launched the campaign last August just prior to the State Government’s announcement that a ban on plastic bags would be introduced in WA from July, 2018.

Under the campaign, the Shire created a BYO Bag logo with the tagline ‘Let’s be plastic free!’.

Mr Bennett said the aim of the BYO Bag logo was to provide a visual cue, reminding residents to bring their own environmental bags when they went shopping, dropping off their soft plastics at participating supermarkets for recycling and participating in clean-up events to help prevent plastics entering the environment.

“It turned out to be very positive timing for ensuring the message to BYO BAG reached the widest audience possible,” he said.

“We are investigating other potential projects around waste to energy conversion but we are waiting on more information before we can determine whether they will provide a viable alternative.”

Single-use, plastic bags have already been banned in South Australia, Tasmania, Northern Territory and the ACT.

Ahead of the ban Environment Minister Stephen Dawson is also urging the community to take advantage of a workshop being held in Bunbury aimed at helping plastic bag suppliers, retailers and consumers prepare for and comply with the ban.

The workshop will be held on February 15 from 6pm at the City of Bunbury function room ahead of the ban coming in to place on July 1.